How Long Does It Take to Sell a Business in St. Louis?
Imagine working on your dream business for years, but retirement is finally upon you. Or maybe you’re ready to move on to your next venture.
No matter your reason, you should know how long it might take to sell a business in St. Louis. Then, you can sell it at the right time for you.
Keep reading to learn what goes into the timeline for selling a company.
Type of Business
One of the biggest factors that can affect the time it will take to sell a business is the type of business you have. Overall, you can expect to spend about 30 to 90 days from when your first list the business for sale before the sale closes.
But some businesses may sell faster or not nearly as fast. You should consider the demand for a business like yours. Take a look at other businesses for sale in St. Louis.
Then, you can figure out how long the listings have been up and compare that to the industry and type of each business. Knowing that can help set yourself apart, such as in the pricing or marketing of your St. Louis business.
Business Structure
Another thing that can affect the timeline for selling a business is the business structure. Some buyers may be okay with taking over a sole proprietorship or partnership where they have to work in the business.
However, other buyers may prefer an LLC or corporation that has a team to conduct the daily tasks. Think about how much time you spend in the business right now.
You may still be able to get a quick sale of a business that involves the owner. But you should prepare to find the right buyer to make sure that they’ll want to run the business successfully.
When You List
As you think about your industry and business structure, you can determine the best time to list your business. For example, a landscaping company may not sell fast if you list it in the winter.
On the other hand, a business with college students as its main customer base may sell well then. But you’d struggle to sell that type of business in June when college students are out of town for the summer.
Consider when you might want to buy the type of business you’re looking to sell. Then, you can make sure to list it early enough to beat your competitors but late enough that you can still get some interest.
Marketing the Sale
You should also figure out how to market your business for sale. Of course, you can market the business on your personal and professional social media accounts.
But you may want to work with business brokers to help get your business in front of potential buyers. The more places you can promote your listing and the more times you can share it, the easier it will be to find the right buyer.
Even if you need to sell a business in the off-season, you may still get some interest if you promote it enough. You might even get the amount of money you want as well.
The Buyer
The timeline for selling a company can also depend on the buyer you select. They may need to get a loan or other funding before you can close on the sale, so you might need to wait a while.
Of course, you can ask a buyer about their funding source for the purchase. Then, you will be able to decide if you want to wait for them to get a loan before you can sell the business.
If you don’t want to wait for a loan, you can find another buyer. But at some point, waiting for a loan may take less time than searching for a buyer who can afford to pay for the business in cash.
Your Documents
You’ll also have control over the timeline of the sale based on how well you prepare your documents. When you sell a business, you will need to give your broker and buyer information on the business’s finances.
Documents should also cover any lease for the store or office space and a list of utilities. You should also prepare a document that covers the operating procedures and prepare to hand over the social media accounts.
The more you can prepare these documents, the less time you’ll have to spend on them when a buyer expresses interest. Then, you may be able to move on with that sale.
Asking Price
You may also want to get a business valuation before you even list your business. Then, you’ll be able to list your business for a reasonable selling price to help attract more buyers.
If you list your business for too much, you may put off people who would otherwise want to purchase it. On the other hand, if the list price is too low, people may wonder what is wrong with your business.
When you sell a business, you may need to negotiate on the selling price. But having a ballpark price to list can make a huge difference in how quickly you get an offer.
Location
You should also consider where in St. Louis your business is. For example, if you have a coffee shop or bar, it might sell faster if it’s near Washington University or UMSL.
On the other hand, a business with an office space may sell better if it’s downtown. Think about where you might want to operate the type of business you’re selling.
Then, you can think like a buyer, and you can understand why your business may not sell quickly. If that’s the case, you can work on marketing the sale to get offers.
How Will You Sell a Business?
If you want to sell a business, you may wonder how long it will take. Sadly, you can’t always predict how long it will take to close on the sale.
But you can think about a few factors to help narrow the timeline. Then, you can be sure to list and promote your business so that it can get an offer in no time.
Do you want to sell your business now? Register as a seller and list your business today.
